This story could have been entitled "Taking Care of ____" because it could have been any one of our family at one time or another.  That's just what she did, but of course, all of her family know that.  Over the years, as Daddy's secretary, she came to be so much more.  She was protective of him, shared his values and integrity, and knew all of his idiosyncrasies.  One thing that Daddy just was peculiar about was eating other women's cooking.  He would actually gag just forcing it down, trying to be gracious.  He explained his aversion to us by saying, "You just don't know how clean of a cook she is."  The thought of a cook licking her fingers or tasting out of a pot would steal his appetite.  In all of Starkville, other than Mama, he would only eat the cooking of three other ladies.  Mrs. Fyke was one of them.  Mama shared that with her once early in her job in the Computer Science Department.  The department would occassionally have potlucks for different occassions.  Daddy dreaded them (or any other potluck....church,ect.) and would do his best not to offend anyone but not really eat, either.  Once your mama learned of his peculiarity, she would prepare an entire meal to take to the dinner, prepare Daddy's plate and let him know that she had cooked it all.  She would add minute helpings of others' food offerings so that he could tell the cooks how delicious it was.  It was their little secret.  Daddy's favorite cake was pineapple upside down cake.  One of the student secretaries learned this and when his birthday came around, bless her heart, she surprised him with it.  He forced it down, of course, but every year after that, your Mama always jumped the gun and told everyone she had already planned to cook that cake!  What a great friend she has been to all of our family over the years.  She loved and cared, and, yes, prayed for us all.  It was a fortunate day when we all moved back to Starkville after Daddy finished his doctoral program and needed a secretary.  I would like to believe that it was all divine in plan.  She needed a job just when he needed her.  She was a perfect fit....she was warm and welcoming to all who came into that department, the first impression that students and faculty saw.  She was gregarious by nature, as was Daddy, and it was  happy place to be.  Although she loved to talk, she held counsel for every circumstance that came through that department.  Daddy trusted her implicitly, knowing that she would protect the confidentiality of all aspects of the department and Computing Center.  With her home-going, I close the final chapter on that part of our lives. I am happy for her, but sad for all of us.  Thank you for sharing that precious lady with our family.  You all became a part of us, and we are so thankful.  We love each of you, Nan Davis Anderson